To perform the technique, the user must first summon a ceremonial throne and place the target on it.[3] The seal was not automatically visible on Naruto's belly, but became perceptible whenever he drew Kurama's chakra.[4]

Kurama within Naruto's subconscious.

Whenever Naruto and Kurama conversed, it occurred within Naruto's subconscious, which was depicted as a basement of a boiler room or a sub-level of a power plant, with pipes running across the ceiling and the floor being flooded over with water. On the entrance gate of Kurama's cage, there was a parchment of paper that said "seal" (封), which covered the lock that kept the fox in.[5][6] Minato also sealed his and Kushina's remaining chakra into Naruto with this seal. Minato appeared in Naruto's subconscious when Naruto transformed into his eight-tailed form,[7] and restored the seal to its original strength, but he could only do it once.[8] Kushina also appeared and assisted Naruto when he later fought Kurama to control its chakra.[9]

Key

Because the seal itself would naturally weaken over time, Minato created the key, on the abdomen of the scroll toadGerotora, that can either strengthen or completely remove the seal.

During Naruto's two-and-a-half year training with Jiraiya, Jiraiya once used the key to open up the seal just a crack, so he could have Naruto try to filter out Kurama's influence when he tapped into its chakra. Unfortunately, it instead unleashed the four-tailed form.[10]

Naruto preparing the key to the seal.

During Naruto's training to control Kurama's power at the Falls of Truth, the seal itself was destroyed when Kurama used its Tailed Beast Ball to try and blast Naruto after he used the key to open the seal's gate.[11] However, after Kurama's chakra merged with Naruto, he was able to imprison the fox itself with a new, stronger seal that consisted of massive torii, that Naruto could use optionally to restrain it. Kurama was generally free behind a gate resembling interlocking torii along with the same lock that was there with the previous gate.[12]